PORT ST. LUCIE (AP) -New York Mets second baseman Luis Castillo is so driven to make up for a horrendous 2008 season he traveled two hours each day this winter to work out at the team’s academy in the Dominican Republic.
“I’m a new man right now,” Castillo said Wednesday, when he reported to the team’s training camp 17 pounds lighter. “I feel so different than last year. That’s why I know I can be better. I want to prove what kind of player I am. Last year was a bad year for me and I know I can play better.”
Fresh off signing a $25 million, four-year contract, Castillo reported to spring training last year out of shape after offseason knee surgery, and it was downhill from there.
“Last year was a tough time for him,” Mets’ manager Jerry Manuel said. “That last week of the season, that was a struggle for him. That was a lot of testing of him at that point. He took it upon himself to say hey, I need to get this right because I can do this.”
mes, he had just 11 extra-base hits, drove in 28 runs and scored 46 times.
“Last year, that was tough for me,” Castillo said. “I signed for four years and I tried to play too soon. That’s the mistake I made. I wasn’t prepared to start the season. I want to … focus on this year and try to help the team to win.”
Castillo made an impression on his manager.
“He looks real good,” Manuel said. “He looks light not only physically, but kind of mentally and spiritually he looks light. I didn’t have any kind of in-depth conversation with him or anything. It’s just the energy, watching him interact with the players and that type of thing.”
After watching the Mets use Damion Easley, Argenis Reyes and Ramon Martinez at second base during the stretch run, Castillo asked to meet with Mets’ General Manager Omar Minaya after the season.
But rather than ask out of New York, Castillo asked Minaya not to trade him.
“He said he felt bad about how the year had gone, how disappointed he was that he wasn’t able to contribute to the team,” Minaya said. “His whole career he’d never had a year like this and he wanted to let me know that this winter he was going to go out and get himself ready.”
Manuel said winning over his teammates this spring shouldn’t be tough for Castillo, but winning back fan support in New York may not be as easy.
d. “In that sense and because in his case the injuries and things made him not quite right, I think he’s OK (with teammates). But I think it’s important he wins the fans back. That’s important to him.”
Notes: Mets shortstop Jose Reyes was his usual loose self in the clubhouse, until a reporter asked him about the Phillies and Cole Hamels’ reference to the Mets as choke artists. “I don’t know why they always focus on us,” Reyes said. “We don’t worry about the Phillies. We focus about the New York Mets. They have to be happy because they win the World Series. Why do they focus on us? What did we do to them? If they don’t like us, that’s OK.” … Top prospect Fernando Martinez reported to camp Wednesday despite the fact he’s not supposed to do anything baseball related for two more weeks after straining his throwing elbow during winter ball. However, after seeing doctors Wednesday morning Martinez was excited to learn he has been cleared to swing a bat. He quickly grabbed his equipment and headed for the batting cages. … Marlon Anderson reported to camp Wednesday nearly 20 pounds lighter than he was at the end of last season.
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